Label applying and gripping mechanism.



J. E. JOHNSON. LABEI APPLYING AND GRIPPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 12. l9|5.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- Patented Jan.

. L E. JOHNSON. LABEL APPLYING AND GRIPPING MECHANISM.

APPLWATION FILED FEB- 12. I915.

L E. JOHNSON. LABEL APPLYING AND GRIPPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1915- Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

JOHN EMANUEL JOHNSON, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 1' 0. AND J. MACHINE COMPANY, OF WORCES, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LABEL APPLYING nasaeeo.

Specification ofltetters lPatent.

II'WG MECISM.

Application filed February 12, 1915. Serial 1W0. 7,874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. JOHN EMANUEL J OHN- ter and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Label Applyin and Gripping Mechanism, of which the fo owing is a specification.

This invention relates to a labeling machine and particularly to that type thereof in which the bottles or other articles to be labeled are supported on a movable carrier so as to move labels and. thereon.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide means whereby the speed of such a machine can be very materially increased without a corresponding increase in the expense of the machine, and so arranged that no additional labor cost will be required in running the machine at high speed; also to provide a machine of this type with a plurality of label carrying and applying devices so arranged with relation to each other that past devices for applying the performing other operations each will Work at substantially the same speed as if only one were employed; to provide an improved arrangement of label gripping devices for effectively holding the labels applied by the label carriers; to provide means for stopping the machine if a bottle is out of place When approaching labeling position; ments in the combinations of these several devices and he construction of the parts thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which the invention is shown as-applied to a machine constructed 7 mainly like the machine which is the subject of an application for Letters Patent filed by myself and Charles H. Oslund, on the 11th day of June, entitled Rotary labeling machine, and in which drawings, I

Figure 1 is a plan of a rotary machine constructed in accordance with this inven- Fig. 2 is a plan of a part of the same, showing the labeling pickers and-grippers in another position;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the lower part thereof showing the mechanism directly supported by the base and showing the parts shown above in and to provide improve 1914, Serial No. 844,553 and.

of the vertical shaft 41 so as to section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4:;

is a side View of a detail showing in section on the line 3--3 of the main vertical shaft showing the arrangement of cams and gripper operating devices thereon;

Fig. 6 is a radial sectional the gripper mechanism; and

Fig. '4' is an end view of the gripperoperating mechanism shown in Fig. 5. with the cams removed.

Although I have shown the invention as applied to a machine constructed in eneral like that shown in the above identi ed application, ll am aware of the fact that the invention is not limited to that particular machine or even to the rotary type of labeling machine. However, I have discovered that the speed of that machine, and in fact of many other movable carrier labeling machines, is limited by the speed at which the label carrying and applying mechanism can be operated. The bottle carrier, and label gripping devices can be operated at much higher speeds than the label pickers, and the wipers can be stationary so that they do not limit the speed of the machine. By provid ing a multiple label applying device It find that the speed can be greatly increased without materially modifying the rest of the machine.

In the form illustrated as in said application, a. main frame 42 is provided on which an electric motor 43 is mounted which b means of gearing operates a horizontal shaft 44 mounted in bearing brackets on the frame. The connection of the motor with this shaft is controlled by a clutch 45 adapted to be thrown in and out by means of a lever on a shaft 46. U11 the shaft 44; is a bevel pinion 47 operating a downwardly facing bevel gear 48 fixed to a vertical shaft 41. Consequently when the clutch is connected the motor will constantly rotate the latter shaft. A casing 36 is carried by the frame 42 and carries a central vertical fixed sleeve BTat the top which supports a main rotary table or article carrier 40 connected with the top turn with horizontal horizontal for receivview showing this shaft. The'table is located in position and has a substantially surface around its circumference ing the bottles.

Patented Jan. as, rare.

lllh

- around the table. On the other end of each shaft 23 or 23 is a collar 24 which is'fixed' them down on the table.

as that As in the above identified case the bottles can be fed to and removed from the table by a' conveyer 35 having appliances '34 and 33 for moving them between the conveyer and table, but this is not a part of the pres ent invention.

The bottles are applied to the table just in front of a series of bottle rests or locating devices 8, an even number of which is shown. For the purpose of gripping the bottles and positively holding them in position a vertically reclprocable rod 14 is provided at the rear of each bottle rest. Mounted on each of the rods is a bottle grip 16. These can be adjusted and are provided with conical sockets 17 in the bottom for engaging the tops of the bottles and positively clamping Each bottle is clamped as soon as it is fed into proper po- .sition on the table. No specific means for the bottle clamp is shown herein illustrated in the above identified case can be used either with or without modification.

Fixed on the sleeve 37 are two label grip operatin cams 20 and 20* which are circular but rise and fall alternately. Each of these operates a series of cam rollers 21 or 21 each on an arm 22 or 22 fixed to a rocking shaft 23 or 23 radially mounted in bearings projecting down from the bottom of the table. The shafts 23 and 23 are alternately arranged to the shaft by a set screw and has a bearing bushing projecting from its end. On this bushing is loosely mounted a bracket 25. To this bracket is fixed a label grip arm 27 or 27. The brackets 25 are capable of rocking slightly to allow'for the variations in the sizes of bottles to be labeled. This rock-.

ing. is resisted by a spring 26' between each bracket and a projection on the collar.-

Each label griparm is provided with a pad 28 for gripping the neck label and with a spring-pressed pad 29 for gripping the body label. This yields to allow for variations. In operation the arms 27 and 27 alternately swing up and down in notches 30.-in the table. These grippers are arrangedin two' series and operated alternately because there are two sets of alternately operating pickers bottle when in a definite position.

keyed I .55

as will appear.

- There are a plurality of paste and label carrying. mechanisms spaced around the table, each adapted to apply a .label to a Each is controlled .from a shaft 50 or 50, each having a pinion 49 meshing with the gear 48. The sup' ort or frame 42 is provided with two stan s 51 and 51 on which are rods 52 and 52. On each of these rods is a slidable sleeve .53 or 53", the sleeves being to turn with the res ective rods; To these sleeves the label. pi ers are fixed ing edge cam 54 and the groove of this cam engages a cam roll 55 which is on a lever 56. Two of these levers are pivoted below the bottom of the frame 42 and they are pivotally connected with the sliding sleeves 53 and 53 by means of grooved collars thereon. It-will be obvious therefore that as the shafts rotate these sleeves are reciprocated in a certain definite way. I

Also mounted on the shafts 50 and 50* are picker swinging face cams 58. These operate rolls 59 on bell cranks each of which is connected at' its outer end with a link 61 which is normally pulled down by-a spring 62. This link is connected'at its upper end and consequently it will be clear that when a cam 58 pulls the roll 59 in, that set of pickers will be rocked toward the label holder.

On the base 42 next to the second label 'with an arm 63 fixed to the rod 52 or 52 applying. mechanism is a verticalv rod 74 a carrying anarch 75 provided with wipers (not shown).

Located farther along the frame 42 is another stationary base or column 78 which carries a fixed arch 79 provided with a pair of fixed wipers for the labels. This is'for the purpose of further slicking the labels and taking care of any inaccuracy or displacement which may have occurred in the first wiping gperation. Athird stationary wiping arch 0 is also shown having'wipers 81 therein. All these may be alikeor not as I vertical rod 85' carrying a bracket 86. On

this bracket is journaled a horizontal shaft 87 to which is fixed a depending detector 88. This is bifurcated and has an internal form substantially the same as that of a pair of pickers. .Thus any bottle on the table in a place or condition or an foreign object that would engage and ten to break or injure the pickerswill engage this detector. The result of such engagement is to swing the detector back as the table moves and turn the shaft 87. This is shown as having an arm .89 to which is connected 9. flexible connec-' tion 90,,as'a cord or wire. This passes un der'a sheave 91 that passes to an arm 1 fixed on a collar 93 secured to the shaft 46 which operates the clutch 45. These parts meg-25o bringing the bottle to upright central posi- 7 tion.

I will now describe the operation of the machine as a whole.

The motor 43 being in operation, the operator is at liberty to manipulate the starting shaft 46 by its lever (not shown) to throw in the clutch 45 and start the shafts 11, 4A, 50, and 50. This results in the first place in rotating the table at a rapid but uniform speed. Bottles are placed by hand or in any other desired way upon the feed belt at the left in Fig. 1 and they move up toward the feeding device 34. This feeding device as it rotates engages a bottle supported by the belt and positively moves it around through more than a half circle as setforth in full in the above identified application. The bottle is applied in this manner to the rotating table which rotates at a higher speed in feet per minute than the feed device 34:. Consequently the bottle will be carried along by the table. The bottle is immediately gripped by the bottle grip 16 and then moves along positively with the table. If it is too large, or inclined, or for any reason, projects out on either side far enough to engage the detector, the machine is stopped. If it is clamped in proper position, however, it passes through the-detector freely. Just before it gets to the position A the first set of pickers slides in a vertical plane in front of it so that one picker is on each side of the bottle. passes between the pickers and takes the labels from them by this means. The label gripper 27 rises at this time and grips the label or labels on the bottle. l/Vhen the bottle and stud 14 pass beyond the first pickers the latter start to slide back toward their pasting device ready for another operation. The bottle with the-labels thereon and the label gripper positively holding them, moves on and passes the position A while the second set of pickers is moving. in. Then the bottle moves between the wipers of the first set and their relative positions are unchanged as they move on between the second set of wipers and the third set if used.

While this bottle passes from the position A in Fig. 1 to the position A the second set of pickers is taking a label from its label holder and while it passes to the next position and the next following bottle comes from the position A to A the second set of pickers comes into position in its path with the labels thereon. During this period the first set of pickers is back out of the way so that the second bottle passes that position without any action on it. The grip- Then the bottle pers 27 engage the label on the second bottle and it passes on through the wipers. The bottles are unclamped and then moved off the table in the manner which has been described in said application.

, It will be seen, therefore, according to this invention that by s )eeding up the table, and the means for app ying and removing bottles therefrom, if used, the label picking and applying devices can be operated without any increase in speed so as to label the bottles or other articles, much faster than has been the case heretofore and with a maxi mum of substantially twice the speed of the machine shown in the above identified appli cation when two pickers are used. The use of a pluralityof picking devices permits of their going through the same cycles of operation as in said application, without running them at an excessive speed, and there is no increase in the relative speed of operation of the grippers, because each one operates once during each rotation of the table. They simply have to operate faster because the table is going faster, but they do not have any additional duty to perform.

As to the wiping arrangements, although I have shown no particular type of wipers it will be understood-that those heretofore employed or suggested can be used with a machine constructed and operating in this manner.

Although I have illustrated and described the invention as applied to a particular type of machine and shown only one form of the invention, 1 am aware of the fact that it can be applied to other types of machines in which the articles are fed along during the labeling operation, and that many modifications can be made in its construction or arrangement without departing from the scope of the'invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited in these respects, but what I do claim is 1. In a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for carrying the articles to be labeled along a path, of a plurality of label carrying and picking devices arranged adjacent thereto, and means whereby each of said label carrying and picking devices will be actuated to carry a label toward the carrier when the carrier moves to a definite position to apply labels at different times to corresponding parts of alternate adjacent articles while in said path at different points therealong.

2. In a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for carrying the articles to be labeled along a path, of two labeling devices arranged adjacent thereto, and separate means for actuating said labeling devices alternately toward the carrier into position at difierent times to apply labels to corre sponding spots on alternate articles on the carrier while in said path.

, of pickers is moved toward the carrier while the other set is located away from the car-= rier, whereby said pickers will operate alternately to label alternate articles located along said path.

4. In a labeling machine, the combinationwith a carrier having means thereon for 10- cating and supporting an even number of articles to be labeled in evenly spaced relation to each other, two complete separate label carriers, and means for independently operating each label carrier, to present a label to the same position on an article on the article carrier, every time the article carrier moves through a space equal to the distance between three adjacent locating means.

5. In a labeling machine, the combination with a rotary table for supporting a series of .the articles to be labeled, of two sets of label pickers arranged adjacent to each other in an arc alongside the table, means whereby each set of pickers is moved toward the table while the other set is located away from it, whereby said pickers will operate alternately on adjacent articles on the-table, a series of label gripping devices arranged in. a circle on said table, and two means for operating said label grippin arranged to operate each a ternate label gripping device.

6'. In a labeling machine, the combine ion with a carrier having means thereon for lo eating and supporting an even number of articles to be labeled in evenly spaced relation to each other, two labeling devices identical in arrangement, whereby the labels will be placed b them on the articles at the same height, an means for operating each label device to present a label into the path of an article on the article carrier every time the carrier moves through a space e ual to the distance between three of sai locating means adjacent to each other.

7. In a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier having means thereon for 10- cating and supporting. an even number of articles to be-labeled in evenly spaced relation toeach other, two label carriers, means for operating each label carrier, to present a label to an article on the article carrier,

every time the article carrier moves through a space equal to the distance between three adjacent locating means, two series of. label grippers arranged in alinement on the carrier, and means for operating a gripper of each series when the article carrier travels the same distance.

8. In a labeling machine, the combination of a rotary table having means thereon for devices, one

over the table.

supporting a plurality of bottles in spaced relation to each other, of two sets of label pickers movable over said table at difierent points thereon whereby one of them will apply labels to the bottles at one point and the other at another point, means for operatmg said pickers alternately, label grippers arranged on said table, each one just in front of a point at which a bottle is held thereon, means for operating each alternate one of said grippers togrip a label when it reaches a certain position in the rotation of the table, and means for operating the other grippers when they reach a di erent posit on, the

first position being at the point at which one of the sets of label pickers moves over the table and the other position being thatat which the other set of label pickers moves over the table.

9. In a labeling machine, the combination of a carrier for supporting a plurality of bottles in spaced relation to each other, of

two sets of label pickers movable over said carrier at difi'erent points thereon so thatv one may apply labels to the bottles at one point and the other at another point, means for operating said pickers. alternately, two sets of label grippers, means for operating one of said label grippers to grip a label on the bottle when it reaches a certain position, and means for operating the-other gripper when the bottles reach a different position, the first position being at the point at which one of the'sets of label pickers moves over the table and the other osition being that at which the other set of abel pickers moves 10. In a labeling machine, -the combina A tion of a table, for carrying articles toy-be labeled, a plurality of shafts, means for mtating said shafts at the same speed from thefirst namedshaft, a set of cams on each of V said-shafts, a set of label pickers corresponding with each of said shafts, andmeans operated by each of said cams for operating a label-picker, said cams being set on said shafts to operate the label pickers alternately. I V

11. In a labeling machine, the combination of a base, a vertical shaft thereon, means for rotatingsaid shaft, a. horizontal table carried by the shaft and rotatable thereby for carrying articles to be labeled, a plurality of shafts carried by said base, means for r0-' .tating said shafts atthe same speed from the first named shaft, a set of cams on each of said shafts, a set of label pickers correspondin with each of said shafts, and means 5 by each of saidcams for operating 1 a label picker, said cams being set on sai operate shafts to operate'the. label pickers alternately.

12. In a labeling machine, the combination of a horizontal rota table two stationary cams located under e table, a series of label pickin i means operated by said detector for stopping naeaeto radial shafts supported under the table and spaced equally apart around the same, means connected with every alternate one of said shafts for enga ing one of said cams whereby said cam will oscillate the shaft as the table rotates, means connected with the rest of theshafts for being oscillated by the other cam, and a label gripper carried by each of said shafts.

13. In a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for the articles to be labeled, of two sets of label pickers arranged adjacent to each other alongside the carrier, means whereby each set of pickers is moved toward the carrier while the other set is located away from the carrier, whereby said pickers Wlll operate alternately, a detector located in the path of the articles and shaped substantially like the pickers, and means whereby if said detector is engaged by an article heldon the table the machine will be stopped.

14. In'a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for movin along a path the articles to be labeled, of a bifurcated device movable into said path, a detector 0 substantially the same shape as the label picking device located in said path,

and means operated by said detector for stopping the carrier.

15. In a labeling machine, the combinat1on with a carrier for moving along a ath the articles to be labeled, of a-label pic 'ng device movable into said ath, a detector of snbstantia'lly the same s ape as the label picking device located in said path, and

the operation of the label pickingdevice.

16. In a labeling machine, the combination with a rotary table for carrying the articles to be labeled, a label picker,'means for moving the label picker over the table eriodically, a detector shaped like the plcker and located imadvance thereof, a shaft with which said detector swings, a clutch for starting. and stopping the machine, and means connected with said shaft for operating said clutch.

17. In a labeling machine, the combination with a table for carrying the articles to be labeled, of a label picker, means for moving the label picker over the table periodically, a detector, a shaft with which said detector swings, aclutch for startingand stopping the machine, and means connected with said shaft for throwing out said clutch when the detector is engaged by an article on the table.

18. In a labeling machine, the combination with a carrier for carrying the articles to be labeled in a path, two complete labeling devices arranged adjacent to said path, means for actuating said labeling devices alternately toward the carrier; to apply a label to alternate articles thereon while located adjacent to each other, and a set of wipers through which the articles labeled by both labeling devices are passed by the operation of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN R.

. 1| JOHNSON. Witnesses: 

